Patient/invalid support

A patient support comprising:

• a mattress having an upper side forming a patient support surface, the mattress including an internal gel cushioning layer having a plurality of gel walls defining first and second spaced apart sides, the first side facing in the direction of the patient support surface and being recessed below the patient support surface, the gel walls forming-transverse passageways extending from the first side to the second side through the gel-cushioning layer;
• the mattress including a second cushioning layer over the gel cushioning layer;
• a flexible air distribution manifold located beneath the second side of the gel cushioning layer, the transverse passageways allowing airflow flowing from the air distribution manifold to flow into the second side, through the gel cushioning layer, and from the first side of the gel cushioning layer toward the second cushioning layer;
• and
• wherein the gel cushioning layer comprises a first gel cushioning layer, the second cushioning layer comprising a second gel cushion layer extending over the first gel cushioning layer and having a greater width or length than the first gel cushioning layer.